Part 16 (1/2)

It being his Majesty's pleasure, that I should yet have another opportunity to write before he dissolves the Parliament, I avail myself of it with all possible alacrity I thank you for your last, which was not the less welcoazette, at a time when it was not expected

As when the sea is uncoitated, the water finds its way into creeks and holes of rocks, which in its calmer state it never reaches, in like manner the effect of these turbulent tieneral we live as undisturbed by the political element as shrimps or cockles that have been accidentally deposited in so of the waves

We were sitting yesterday after dinner, the two ladies and myself, very composedly, and without the least apprehension of any such intrusion in our snug parlor, one lady knitting, the other netting, and the gentle worsted, when to our unspeakable surprise a mob appeared before the ; a smart rap was heard at the door, the boys bellowed, and the maid announced Mr Grenville Puss was unfortunately let out of her box, so that the candidate, with all his good friends at his heels, was refused adrand entry, and referred to the back door, as the only possible way of approach

Candidates are creatures not very susceptible of affronts, and would rather, I suppose, climb in at the , than be absolutely excluded

In a minute, the yard, the kitchen, and the parlor were filled Mr

Grenville, advancing toward ree of cordiality that was extre As soon as he, and as an to open the intent of his visit I told hiave me credit I assured him I had no influence, which he was not equally inclined to believe, and the less, no doubt, because Mr Ashburner, the draper, addressing hireat deal Supposing that I could not be possessed of such a treasure without knowing it, I ventured to affir, that if I had any I was utterly at a loss to iine where it could be, or wherein it consisted Thus ended the conference Mr Grenville squeezed ain, kissed the ladies, and withdrew He kissed likewise the , kissing, kind-hearted gentleenteel, and handsoood eyes in his head, which not being sufficient, as it should seem, for the many nice and difficult purposes of a senator, he has a third also, which he suspended fros barked, puss sca train of obsequious followers, withdrew We made ourselves very merry with the adventure, and in a short time settled into our former tranquillity, never probably to be thus interruptedable to affirm truly that I had not that influence for which he sued; and which, had I been possessed of it, with my present views of the dispute between the Crown and the Commons, I must have refused him, for he is on the side of the former It is comfortable to be of no consequence in a world where one cannot exercise any without disobliging somebody The town, however, seems to be hout the country, he will undoubtedly gain his election Mr

Ashburner, perhaps, was a little mortified, because it was evident I owed the honor of this visit to his ht proper to assure Mr Grenville that I had three heads, I should not, I suppose, have been bound to produce them

_Now stir the fire, and close the shutters fast, Let fall the curtains, wheel the sofa round, And while the bubbling and loud hissing urn Throws up a steamy column, and the cups That cheer but not inebriate wait on each, So let us welco_

XXVII FROM ”THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL”[G]

RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN--1751-1816

SCENE--_A Room in_ SIR PETER TEAZLE'S _House_

_Enter_ SIR PETER TEAZLE

_Sir Pet_ When an old bachelorwife, what is he to expect? 'Tis now six months since Lady Teazle madeever since We tiffed a little going to church, and fairly quarrelled before the bells had done ringing I wasthe honeymoon, and had lost all co irl bred wholly in the country, who never knew luxury beyond one silk gown, nor dissipation above the annual gala of a race ball Yet she now plays her part in all the extravagant fopperies of fashi+on and the toith as ready a grace as if she never had seen a bush or a grass-plot out of Grosvenor Square!

I araphed in the newspapers She dissipates my fortune, and contradicts all my humors; yet the worst of it is, I doubt I love her, or I should never bear all this However, I'll never be weak enough to own it But Ibut crosses and vexations--and the fault is entirely hers I a temper; and so I tell her a hundred times a day--Ay! and what is very extraordinary, in all our disputes she is always in the wrong But Lady Sneerwell, and the set she e the perverseness of her disposition Then, to coht to have the power of a father over, is determined to turn rebel too, and absolutely refuses theresolved on for her husband--

_Enter_ LADY TEAZLE

Lady Teazle, Lady Teazle, I'll not bear it!

_Lady Teaz_ Sir Peter, Sir Peter, you ht to have , and, what's h I was educated in the country, I know very well that women of fashi+on in London are accountable to nobody after they are married

_Sir Pet_ Very well, ma'am, very well; so a husband is to have no influence, no authority?

_Lady Teaz_ Authority! No, to be sure If you wanted authority over me, you should have adopted h

_Sir Pet_ Old enough!--ay, there it is Well, well, Lady Teazle, though my life may be made unhappy by your teance!

_Lady Teaz_ My extravagance! I'ant than a woht to be

_Sir Pet_ No, no,luxury Such wastefulness! to spend as -room with flowers in winter as would suffice to turn the Pantheon into a greenhouse, and give a _fete champetre_ at Christmas

_Lady Teaz_ And am I to blame, Sir Peter, because flowers are dear in cold weather? You should find fault with the climate, and not withall the year round, and that roses grew under our feet